The Best Gifts are Homemade

The other day I came home and let Hank out of the bedroom. He gets locked up with the radio on while we're renting this duplex because he's been stalking the next door neighbor from the guest bedroom window and causing a ruckus. He hates that guy. There have been days where it has gotten so bad that I could have tossed him out the window. So annoying. This time he ran to the front door (I came in the side) and started howling his face off and furiously sniffing the cracks. After much reassurance that there was no one there, he continued so I flung open the door to prove my point.

There, laying unannounced on the front step was one of the most fabulous gifts I have ever received. Behold:


I dare you to find a more fitting gift for me than an oil painting of my stinky monkey. I kind of think it would be hilarious to take a family photo of Ben, me and the two dogs sitting in armchairs in front of a roaring fire, blow it up, and hang it over the mantle, but that's one of those things that people don't get and you walk around thinking you're hilarious while they think you're a pretentious jerk.

Back in December the Hodges moved to town and we put them up for awhile so they could stop paying for hotel rooms and find a decent place to live without feeling rushed. Tricia's mom was also in tow and she was a hoot. Her hobby is painting, and to thank us for our hospitality she decided to send us a Diane Grande original. She asked us what we wanted her to paint and I immediately got all awkward. The thought had never crossed my mind and for the life of me I didn't know how to respond. Ben suggested a beachy scene and I think I may have tumbled out a few really stupid words before she came up with the idea to paint Hank. To our surprise, she sent both:


Mind completely blown. Awesomeness.